Centrifugal compressor based altitude control device with active valve system
AssigneeAerostar Inernational, LLC
InventorsKevin Anderson, Keegan Gartner
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An altitude control system for an unmanned aerial vehicle includes a compressor assembly defining a plenum therein, a passive valve assembly coupled to a first portion of the compressor assembly and in fluid communication with the plenum, and an active valve assembly coupled to a second portion of the compressor assembly and in fluid communication with the plenum. A method of controlling an altitude of an unmanned aerial vehicle and an unmanned aerial vehicle are also provided.
Claims20
An altitude control system for an unmanned aerial vehicle, comprising:
- a compressor assembly defining a plenum therein;
- a passive valve assembly coupled to a first portion of the compressor assembly and in fluid communication with the plenum and adapted to inhibit flow of fluid through an aperture of a diffuser;
- and
- an active valve assembly coupled to a second portion of the compressor assembly and in fluid communication with the plenum and adapted to inhibit flow of fluid through an aperture of a diffuser.
An aerial vehicle, comprising:
- a balloon configured to retain a lifting gas and having a ballonet disposed therein that is configured to retain ballast gas therein;
- and
- a compressor assembly defining a plenum;
- a valve assembly coupled to the compressor assembly and in fluid communication with the plenum;
- a valve included in the valve assembly;
- a solenoid coupled with the valve;
- and
- wherein the valve assembly is configured for active and passive operation:
- in active operation the solenoid is configured to actively move the valve and permit communication with the plenum;
- and in passive operation the valve is configured to passively move according to pressurized fluid generated by the compressor assembly and permit communication with the plenum.
An altitude control system for an aerial vehicle, comprising:
- a plenum defined by a compressor assembly;
- a valve assembly coupled to the compressor assembly and in fluid communication with the plenum;
- a solenoid coupled with the valve assembly;
- and
- wherein the valve assembly is configured for active and passive operation:
- in active operation the solenoid is configured to actively move the umbrella valve and permit communication with the plenum;
- and in passive operation the umbrella valve is configured to passively move according to pressurized fluid generated by the compressor assembly and permit communication with the plenum.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.